People

Supervision and mentoring

Each PhD student has one (or more) supervisor(s). The supervisor is typically a professor at the department or a docent closely connected to the department. In addition, the student may have one or several unofficial postdoc-level supervisors. Most importantly the supervisors should have expertise and competence in the sub-field of research of the student and they should be committed to supervise the student.

The student has the right to receive regular supervision, but also the obligation to update his or her personal study plan regularly, to report on the progress of the research and studies, to participate in the activities of the department (teaching and departmental duties), and to inform the supervisor if the studies will be delayed.

The supervisor must provide supervision for both research and studies regularly, and also follow up the student's progress, ensure the continuity of the supervision if he or she is unable to provide supervision. The supervisor has the right to resign from the supervision relationship, if the student does not fulfil the obligations specified in his or her study plan.

The mentors support the student in his or her studies and research. The mentors should meet the student at least twice annually, e.g., at a PhD poster session. The mentors are supposed to encourage the students, not review them. The mentors should have PhD degrees and may work at the department or at other departments or universities. Each student should have two mentors (or fewer if the student has several supervisors).